Taryn's Wreckreation Guide: Firefighter For A Day!

My buddy Lance is one of the bravest people I have ever met. He's a Paramedic Firefighter with North County Fire & EMS at Station 99 in my hometown of Stanwood, and today I got to visit him at work and get a taste of what he does for a living. Can I just say it was AWESOME?!

First off, one of the things I really loved about walking into Station 99 was the history preserved and the camaraderie celebrated. There were composite photos of firefighters from decades ago, plus a display cabinet filled with legacy. It was absolutely fascinating.

And although it's no longer in use, the firefighters pole was on display! I know what you're thinking, and the answer is no, I behaved myself ;)

From there, I toured the firefighters' dorm area, where I found a Year Of The Cobra sticker in Lance's room! Stoked to see some Loud & Local love at my hometown fire station!

Walking in to see the fire trucks and fire medic vehicles was WAY cool. They are HUGE and the garage doors are massive! I kind of geeked out, because I never toured a fire station as a kid. This was all new to me!

From there, Lance let me gear up and jump into a fire engine to learn the ropes. That gear is SO heavy and for good reason, as I learned all about how the layering and flame retardant materials protect our firefighters and keep them safe!

One thing you'll notice about my friend Lance is that he has the DOPEST mustache ever. He gave me the inside scoop... Apparently years ago, before they had the modern, full-face protective gear, firefighters would grow a mustache like Lance's so that they could snake the hair up their nostrils and filter out soot and smoke as they fought fires. A little history lesson for you! He pays homage to the firefighters who came before him every day with the most bad ass 'stache I've ever seen :)

Okay, so probably the coolest thing I learned was that you operate the siren with your foot in the fire engine! Between that and getting to yank on the horn, I felt pretty special :)

Lance also hooked up the fire hose to a fire hydrant and let me monkey around with some of the controls on the truck. I even got to shoot water from the bumper hose! The amount of care that goes into packing the hoses back up into the truck afterward was fascinating! There's a place for everything, with so many compartments and storage spaces.

All in all, the entire experience had me even more impressed with the men and women who come to the rescue when we need help the most. They are absolutely fearless. Not only that, but they really love what they do and are super passionate about helping others. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a person with a bigger heart than a firefighter's. And ladies, just so you know, Lance IS single :)

Thank you for an unforgettable day, best friend! I can't wait to visit again sometime. I learned so much about the industry, and above all else I want to thank ALL firefighters for their service! You truly are our heroes.